Fraternity Day of Service

Pi Beta Phi’s Fraternity Day of Service was created in honor of Dr. Seuss’® birthday and his importance to children’s literature. Every year in early March, Pi Phi clubs, chapters and members around the world host book fairs, read with children and promote reading in their communities. Each celebration is different, but all are linked by the common thread of literacy-related service.

If you're not within driving distance of the cities hosting a Signature Event, you can participate in Fraternity Day of Service by planning a reading event to benefit your community! Each Pi Phi chapter and alumnae club is encouraged to plan an event that promotes reading to children. To be inspired by the ways other Pi Phis are providing literacy service in their communities, see our list of ideas and follow #ReadLeadAchieve on social media.

Through the FDS500 program, Pi Beta Phi awards grants to 100 First Book® recipient groups, nominated by Pi Phi chapters and alumnae clubs, each year. The grants can be used to purchase up to 500 new books from First Book, and the books are distributed to children in need.

Signature Events

Fraternity Day of Service Signature Events are held in several major cities across North America every year. At each event, Pi Phi volunteers distribute 20,000 new, age–appropriate books to children in need and promote the importance of reading and literacy. These are the first new books many of the children will have ever received, and providing access to books is a critical step in improving literacy skills and fostering a love of reading.

Pi Phi's 2020 Fraternity Day of Service Signature Events will be held February 29, 2020, in five cities: Birmingham, Alabama; Columbia, Missouri; Raleigh, North Carolina; St. Paul, Minnesota; and Toledo, Ohio. Across the country, Pi Phis will donate more than 100,000 books to children in one weekend.